Permutation lock



Jan. 3, 1928.

'R. K. WINNING ET AL PERMUTATION LOCK Filed June 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2; INVENTORE) A TTORNEYS Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES ROBERT K.

PATENT OFFICE.

WINNING, OF WAUW ATOSA, AND JOEL REX T3031, 01 WEST ALLIS, WIS- CONSIN, ASSIGNOBS T0 CLUM MANUFACTURING 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

PEBMUTATION LOCK.

Application filed June 1,

object of this invention and simplified lock construction peculiarly designed to facilitate its economical manufacture and so organized that the movement of its several permutation disks or plates will occur individually under such circumstances as to make it impossible for motion to be transmitted from one plate to the next.

More specifically stated, the purposes of this invention are to provide a lock in which spacers are interposed between the permuv tation disks and are anchored by means located radially outside of the range of such disks, whereby to ensure positively against the movement of the spacers and the consequent transmission of motion from one dlsk to the next; to provide a lock in which the spacers are adapted to be manufactured at a minimum expense and with the use of a minimum of material; to provide a lock peculiarly adapted for locker service and adapted to be mounted upon any desired thickness of locker wall without changlng the mechanism or organization of the lock and without even requiring any adjustment through the use of set screws or the like; to provide a lock peculiarily adapted for locker service and including a novel arrangement for adjusting the knob or handle of the lock axially with reference to the indicating plate and enabling such knob or handle to be utilized to throw the bolt subsequent to its primary service in positioning the permutation disks; to provide a novel construction of bolt adapted for economical manufacture through stamping operations; tov provide simply and efiectively for changing the combination of a lock, preferably through the same means whereby the handle or knob of the lock is made axially adjustable for the purpose of alternatively operating the permutation disks or the bolt; and to provide a novel and cheaply manufacturable type of lock casing and particularly economical means of centering the cover with respect to the body portion of such casing.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a lock embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical axial section through the lock of Figure 1 as it appears when mounted. a

1925. Serial N0. 33,971.

Figure 3 is a front. elevation of the lock casing and interior mechanism with the cover removed.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the interior of the .cover and actuating mechanism mounted thereon.

Figure 5 is a transverse or horizontal sect on taken axially at right angles to the section shown in Figure 2 and illustrating merely the lock casing and the bolt actuat- 1ng mechanlsm mounted on the cover plate thereof.

Figure 6 is a detail view in side elevation of the built-up lock bolt.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the bolt.

Figure 8 is a detail view, in perspective, of one of the spacers made in accordance with this invention.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

As above indicated, the particular lock herein disclosed is adapted to be used on lockers and the like and is adapted to be mounted ona sheet metal door 10 of a locker. The lock casing comprises a boxlike body 11 stamped from sheet metal to provide upturned sides 12 and 13. The sides 12 have lateral apertured tongues 14 through which securing bolts or rivets may be passed for the attachment of the boxlike body and the locker door 10. A cover plate 15 fits between ears 14 of sides 12 as shown in Figure 2 and overlies the upper margins of sides 13. Lugs 16, adjacent each of the four corners of cover plate 15, are formed by partially severing tongues of metal from the cover plate and pressing such tongues inwardly so that their free margins 17 comprise stops adapted to abut the interior surfaces of the side walls 13 of the casing. A post 18 is riveted at its end to the bottom of the casing and is internally tapped and threaded to receive a screw passed through an aperture 19 in cover plate 15. This screw serves to maintain the cover plate and box portion 11 of thecasing in assembled relation and co-operates with the positioning lugs 16, pending the mounting of the lock on a door such as is illustrated at 10.

The bottom or rear wall of the box portion 11 of the lock casing is embossed outwardly at 20 to provide a recess 21. Secured centrally in an aperture in the embossed portion 20 of the casing is a. stud or post 25 are rotatable.

lation of the 100 which is passed through the aperture and 1s riveted at 26 to engage it permanently with the casing. The permutatlon dlsks 27, 28 and 29 are mounted for rotation on this 0st. p Each of the permutation disks 1s provided with ins 30 ro'ectin toward the other disks wit which it is assdciated. Thus disk 27 has a pin projecting forwardly, d1sk 29 has a pin projecting rearwardly, and disk 28 has pins projecting both forwardly and rearwardly. These pins interact with each other to transmit movement between the several disks in the ordinary manner. It is noteworthy, however, that these pins are not formed in presses axia ly the material of the given ermutation disk, leaving a hole in the ace of the disk opposite to that from which the gin projects. This is clearly brought out in i re 2.

I t is very desirable that no motion what ever should be transmitted between the several disks except through the p1ns pr ov1ded for that purpose. If motion is frictlonally transmitted through the spacers inter sed between the disks it will be obvious t at a disk previously adjustedinto operat1ve position may be dis laced during the manipunecessary to adjust the necessar successive disk to its operative position. t is furthermore very desirable to prevent the disks from tilting with reference to the axis about which they rotate. The lugs 30 are not so large but that if tilting occurred a certain amount of pressure might force the disks apart sufiiciently to permlt the lugs-to pass each other. The s acmg plates, hereinafter to be describe are adapted not only to prevent tilting but to prevent the frictional transmission of any movement whatsoever between the several disks Each of the spacers consists of ananchor portion which is wholly removed from the path of adjustment of the dlsks. This anchor portion is apertured at 36 and 37 to receive the pins 38 and 39 which are both riveted to the bottom of back wall of casing member 11 andconsequently serve to fix the spacing members against movement parallel to the planes in which the permutation disks Each of the spacers includes a pair of arcuate arms 40 and 41 projecting from an anchor portion 35 thereof. These arms are of differing lengths in view of the disposition of posts 38 and 39 in one of the corners of the lock casing. This disposition of the posts renders the lock compact and it is desirable to extend the arms 40 and 41 a suificient distance about the outerperipheries of the several permutation disks 27, 28 and 29 so that no tilting of the disks can occur. It has been found unnecthe usual way but are made} by a stam ing operation which actually integrally therewith and is essary to make the active portion of the spacer in the form of a complete annulus and this is undesirable because if so made the annulus would have to be notched to permit the movement of the bolt hereinafter to be described. The shorter spacing arm 40 extends into close proximity to the path of the bolt upon one side thereof and the longer arm 41 extends into slightly less proximity to the path of the bolt from the other $l(l0.. Each of the arcuate arms 40 and 41 and the corresponding inner periphery of the anchor portion 35 of the spacer is provided with an axially embossed oflset portion 43 which renders the total efi'ective thickness of the spacer somewhat greater than the length of the lugs 30. Thus a very thin metal is used-for the spacers but is so formed as to render it equivalent in function to a much thicker metal. I have found that the axial embossing of the continuous arcuate segment 43 re-enforces the comparatively very thin metal employed for these spacers to such an extent as to make the use of such thin metal entirely practicable while afl'ecting great economies in material and permitting the formation of the spacers with comparatively will be observed from the foregoing and from the accompanying drawings that each of the spacers may be considered as constituting an arcuate segment or portion of an annulus extending peripherally about the margins of the permutation disks and comprismg both of the above described arms 40 and 41. From this fragmental annulus extends the anchor plate 35 which is formed apertured, as aforesaid, to receive pins 38 and 39.

A fluted handle or knob is shouldered at 51 and is provided with a reduced portion 52 adjacent the shoulder extending through an aperture in the cover plate 15. The knob or handle is made hollow and is journalled upon the reduced extremity of stud 25.

vThe sheet metal clutch-member 54 is positioned in a groove in. the handle and is there secured by rivet-in or upsetting the end of the handle as s own at 55. The clutch member has one radially projecting finger 56 and a second finger 57 projecting axially toward the interior of the lock as b st shown in Figures 2 and 4. The clutch member serves to retain the handle or knob 50 against loss from cover plate 15 but nevertheless is adapted to permit the knob to be adjusted axially for a material distance with reference to the cover plate.

Adjacent the cover plate is a, disk 60 similar to the permutation disks 27, .28 and 29. Disk 60 is provided with a central aperture sufiiciently large to receive the reduced portion 52 of the knob and 62 so that when and is notched at 61 the fingers 57 and 56 very light pressure. It

are properl aligned with these notches they are receiva le therein to key the knob to disk 60 for the transmission of movement th ereto.- A radially projecting arm 63 formed integrally with disk 60 is engaged in a notch 64 in a portion of bolts 65 so that when the disk 60 is oscillated the bolt may be retracted. The bolt will be more particularly described hereinafter.

The arrangement is such that when the knob is in the full line position in which it is illustrated in Figure 2, finger 57 of clutch member 54 is engaged in a suitable aperture in the first permutation disk 29. Thereby, the rotation of the knob is duly imparted to the first permutation disk and through manipulation of the disk in the ordinary manner rotation may be positively imparted to the successive disks 28 and 27 through the lugs 30, above described. All of the permutation disks and the several spacers are free for axial movement along stud 25 and are subject to the compression of a spring 67 which is housed in the recess 21 and acts upon permutation disk 27 through an interposed washer. This spring supplies all of the pressure necessary to maintain the several permutation disks and spacers in operative relation and also to provide that degree of pressure which is desirable in order to kee the several permutation disks in a suite le frictional contact with the spacers. The arrangement is somewhat similar to a clutch and it ensures that the friction between the relatively nonrotatable spacers and the permutation disks will be such as to maintain each disk in the exact position to which it is positively adjusted by the proper manipulation of knob 50.

The several permutation disks above described are provided with notches 69 which, when aligned as shown in Figure 3, are adapted to receive the tongue 70 of bolt 65. When the knob 50 has been manipulated to align the notches 69, as aforesaid, the knob 50 will now be drawn axially and will slide outwardly upon stud 25 until the finger 57 has been withdrawn from the opening in permutation disk 29 and has entered notch 61. Fin er 56 will simultaneously enter notch 62 m the latch actuating disk 60. It will be obvious that any further rotation of the knob will not affect the permutation disks but must actuate the bolt 65 through the intermediate disk 60 and arm 63. It will also be obvious that if the knob is 1'0- tated in the right direction the bolt will be retracted and its retractive movement is possible for the reason that the notches 69 in the peripheries ofthe permutation disks are so a igned as to permit the entry of tongue 70. If any one of the permutation disks is in such a position of adjustment that its notch 69 is not aligned as aforesaid it will present an unbroken periphery to the tongue 70 and it will consequently be impossible to retract the bolt.

The construction of the bolt is somewhat peculiar and has been devised for the purpose of providing adequate strength without undue weight. It will be noted that in order to guide the bolt with reference to the sides 12 of the lock casing and in order to provide suitable extensions of the bolt to receive motion from spring 72 and from actuating arm 63 it is necessary to provide comparatively elongated and attenuated members 74 and 75. If made of cast metal, these members might be subject to breakage and it is therefore preferred to make an assembled bolt by forming the members 74 and 75 and the face portion 76 of the bolt in one continuous integral strip of metal. This strip is notched at 64 to receive connection with arm 63 and is likewise preferably shouldered at 77 and 78 to abut that wall 13 of the lock casing through which the bolt is reciprocable. The tongue 70 comprises a second strip of metal folded on itself at 7 9 and provided with oppositely extending extremities 80 in face contact with the interior surface of the facing portion 76 of the first mentioned metal strip.

As fillers for the skeleton bolt thus made, I'provide cubical blocks 82 and 83 lying upon either side of the tongue portion 70 of the bolt. Screws 84 are threaded through the portion 76 of the bolt into the blocks 82 and 83 and the first mentioned strip of metal which is preferably countersunk for the purpose. The composite bolt is now ground and thereupon the division lines between the several pieces of metal of which it is composed are practically obliterated. Through this expedient comparatively malleable metal may be used in the construction of the bolt and danger of the breakage of members 74 and 75 is minimized.

To assist in manipulating knob 50 for the proper adjustment of the permutation disks in order to permit bolt 65 to be retracted, I provide a suitably graduated disk 85 which is cut to provide prongs 86 adapted to enter the several flutes in knob 50. These flutes arev referably circumferentially equidistant so that the combination of the lock ma be changed at an time by the single expe 'ent of removing t e graduated plate 85 and adjusting it to a new splined position of rotation with reference to the knob. The plate 85 has its entire central portion bearing the graduations 88 outwardly embossed, thereby providing at 89 a peripheralflange in a radial plane. A retaining plate 90 is apertured to receive the outwardly embossed portion of the graduated disk 85 while engaging beneath shoulder 91 the peripheral flange 89 of the disk. The round headed bolts 93 ass through apertures in the retaining mem r,

the door 10, and ears 14 of the lock casin and are held by suitable nuts and 100 washers on the inside of door 10 to bind together the several elements through which they extend.

It is particularly to be noted that the graduated disk 85 is thus made to take its axial position with reference to the outer face of door 10 rather than with respect to any part of the lock casing. The splined connection between disk 85 and knob makes it possible to mount the look upon any thickness of door whatsoever and it becomes immaterial whether the door is made of sheet metal or of wood. Furthermore, it has been found that even sheet metal doors are subject to wide variation in thickness and consequently this feature is valuable in permitting the manufacture of a standardized product for all types of doors.

The same splined connection which enables the mounting of this single device upon any type of door within its capacity also permits the axial adjustment of the knob,.as above described, to engage with a clutching action either the bolt retracting member or the first of the series of permutation disks. The graduated disk 85 is at all times operatively and closely associated with its retaining plate 90 and the pointer-92 which may be embossed or painted thereon. The peripheral groove 95 in the knob has no function in connection with the lock and is purely ornamental in character. In effect, it separates that portion of the knob in which the flutings act as splines or keys from the outer portion of the knob in which the fiutings merely assist the operator in grasping the knob for its manipulation.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the above specified objects of this invention are fully satisfied by the construction disclosed. It will moreover be obvious that the support 10 may be taken as typical, not only of a door but also of any other desired structure in which it may be desired to mount a lock. Furthermore, the above constructional features which have been emphasized are well adapted for use in widely different lock assemblies, of which the partidular showing herein is to be taken as merely representative.

We claim:

1. A look of the class described including the combination with a casing having therein a centrally fixed shaft, of a series of spaced tumblers mounted for rotation on said shaft and each having a recess in its periphery and provided with means for inter-engagement with one another for setting the combination thereof, the front tumbler having an opening near its central opening, an operating spindle rotatably and reciprocally mounte on said shaft and having an angular portion between its ends, means on the inner end of said spindle for detachable engagement with said opening of said front tumbler, a dial plate having a central opening corresponding in shape with the cross-sectional shape of said angular portion of said spindle and shdably surrounding said portion, an indicator mounted near said dial plate for association therewith and for association with the scale thereon.

2. In a lock, the combination with a casing and a set of permutation disks rotatably mounted therein, of a bolt reciprocable in said casing and provided with arms in bearmg contact with the casing upon opposite sides of said disk, said bolt and disks being formed for interaction intermediate said arms, and a spacer interposed between two consecutive disks and anchored in fixed relation to said casing wholly at one side of said disks, said side being remote from the portion of said bolt with which such disks are adapted to interact, whereby the anchorage of said spacer does not interfere with the freedom of movement of said bolt.

3. In a lock, the combination with a casing and a plurality of permutation disks rotatably mounted therein and provided with peripheral portions adapted to be brought into alignment by the rotation of said disks, of a bolt reciprocable through a wall of said casing and provided with arms slidably bearing upon other walls of said casing at either side of said disks, an intermediate portion of said bolt being formed for interaction with said disk portions, and spacers interposed between consecutive disks and provided with anchorage elements projecting beyond said disks wholly at one side thereof, and ins connected with said casing and interacting with said anchorage elements to secure said spacers against rotation with said disks, each of said spacers including arms extending in opposite directions from said anchorage elements about said disks and affording clearance between their ends for the interaction of said bolt and disk portions.

' 4. A look, comprising the combination with a casing and a set of permutation disks rotatably mounted therein, of a bolt reciprocable in said casing provided with arms in bearing contact with walls of said casing upon either side said disks, an intermediate portion of said bolt and selected peripheral portions of said disk being formed for interaction, a spring confined within said casing and acting upon one of the arms of said bolt, said spring being disposed upon a side of said casing opposite to said intermediate bolt portion, anchorage means disposed in a corner of said casing between said spring and the arm of said bolt which is not acted u on by said spring. and spacers connected with said anchorage means and secured thereby against rotation with said disks, one of said spacers being inter osed between each consecutive pair of dis 5. In a device of the character described,

l the combination with a set of permutation members mounted for axial and rotative movement, of a spacer inter osed between consecutive disks and axia y adjustable along the path of movement of said members while anchored against movement in a plane transverse to such path, and a spring operatively compressing said members upon said spacer in frictional relation thereto.

6. The combination with a lock casing and a stud mounted therein, of a pair of pins positioned within said casing substantially parallel to said stud, permutation disks mounted on said stud for rotation and axial movement with respect thereto, spacers interposed between consecutive disks and respectively provided with apertures to receive each of said pins, whereby to be guided for axial movement while restrained from movement in a transverse plane, means confining one of said disks against axial movement in one direction, and a compression spring urging another ofsaid disks toward said, means whereby to engage said disks frictionally with an interposed spacer.

. 7. As a new article of manufacture, a spacer comprising an arcuately extending segment of thin metal embossed to provide integrally concentric axially oifset portions.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a spacer comprising an arcuately extending segment of thin metal embossed to provide integrally concentric axially offset portions, one of said portions being provided with a radial extension apertured to receive an anchoring pin. r

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lock mechanism including a permutation disk, a bolt retracting member, and a handle axially adjustable selectively to engage said disk or said member; of a graduated disk in splined relation to said handle, and means for securing said last mentioned disk in a given osition of axial adjustment irrespective o the axial movement of said handle.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lock mechanism including a permutation disk, a bolt actuating member, and a fluted knob axially adjustable for engagement alternatively with said disk or said member; of a graduated disk selectively engageable with the knob and adapted in any position of engagement therewith to be splined thereto.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with permutation lock mechanism and a knob provided with circumferentially equidistant axially extendingflutes, of a graduated disk provided with tongues complements to said flutes, whereby said disk may be ,a justed to a plurality of ositions for splined engagement with said nob.

12. The combination with permutation lock mechanism and a generally cylindrical knob axially adjustable and provided with axially extending circumferentially equidistant flutes, of a raduated disk provided with tongues comp ementary to said flutes and adapted for engagement with said knob 1n a plurality of positions of rotation with respect thereto, and means for securing said disk against axial movement.

13. The combination with permutation lock mechanism and a generally cylindrical knob axially adjustable and provided with axially extending circumferentially e 111- distant flutes, of a graduated disk provi ed with tongues complementary to said flutes and adapted for engagement with said knob in a plurality of positions of rotation with respect thereto, and means for securing said disk against axial movement, said means comprising an axially offset radially extendmg annular flange carried by said disk, and a plate apertured to receive said disk and to engage said flange and provided with a relatively fixed support.

14. In a device of the character describe the combination with a lock casing provide with oppositely extending apertured ears, lock mechanism within said casing and a knob provided with axially extending flutes, of a graduated disk provided with tongues complementary to said flutes, whereby to be splined to said knob, and a retaining plate for said disk provided with apertures registering with the apertures in the ears of said casing, whereby said retaining plate and said casing may be bolted together through an interposed supporting member and said graduated disk will be secured for rotation with said knob irrespective of the thickness of said member within the capacity of said knob.

15. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a lock casing'provided with oppositely extending apertured ears,

lock mechanism within said casing and a justment with respect to said casing,said tongues and flutes of said knob being adapted to permit of such axial adjustment of the knob independently of said disk.

16. An assembled lock bolt comprising integrally a facing strip and rearwardly extending upper and lower members, together with an intermediate rearwardly extending tongue provided with oppositely projectin extremities abutting said facing stri an means securing the extremities 0 said ton e to said facing strip.

l i An assembled lock bolt comprising integrally a facing strip and rearwardly extending upper and lower members, together with a tongue projecting rearwardly intermediate said members, blocks interposed between said tongue and each of said members,

' and securipg devices fastening said blocks to saidifacing' strip and adapted to fix the position of said tongue.

18. An assembled lock bolt comprising a facing strip and rearwardly extending upper and lower members in integral connection, a rearwardly extending tongue vided with oppositely projectm extremities in face abutment with said acing strip, blocks interposed between said tongue and each of said members and of less rearward extent than said tongue, and securing devices passing from said blocks through said extremities and said facing strip and finished flush with said facing strip, whereby to secure together the bolt.

19.- In' a device of the character described, the combination with a retractible bolt, of a set of permutation disks adapted normally to oppose bolt retraction and adapted when properly aligned to permit bolt retraction, means supporting said disks for axial and rotative movement, spacers interposed between consecutive disks and independently anchored, said spacers being axially movable and anchored against movement in transverse planes, means limiting the axial.

movement in one direction of said set of disks and spacers, and a spring pressing said disks and spacers toward said limiting means whereby to maintain them yieldably in fric-' various parts of said tional engagement under predetermined pressure. r

20. In a device of the character described, the combination with a retractible bolt having a rearwardly projecting tongue, of a set of permutation disks having notches in their respective peri heries adapted when aligned to receive sai ton rlpheries of the dis s being adapted in certam positions of the disks to prevent the retraction of said bolt by obstructin tongue, a stud supporting said disks or rotation and axial movement, axially projectmg' lugs on said disks adapted to transmit -motion therebetween, spacers between consecutive disks, anchoring means remote from said stud mounting said spacers for axial movement while securing them against movement in planes transverse to said stud, and a spring operatively pressing one of said disks toward the others of said set e, the un-notched pe.--

said

w ereby tomaintain said disks and spacers in frictional engagement under a predetermined degree of pressure.

j 21. In a device scribed, the combination with a retractible bolt having a rearwardly projecting tongue, of a set of permutation disks having notches in their respective peripheries adapted when aligned to receive said tongue, the unnotched peripheries of the disks'being adapted in certain positions of the disks to prevent the retraction of said bolt by obstructing said tongue,'a stud supporting said disks for rotation and axial movement, axially projecting lugs on said disks adapted to transmit motion therebetween, spacers between consecutive disks and extending arouately therebetween exteriorly of said lugs, anchoring means "remote from said stud mounting said spacers for axial movement while securing them against movement in sure.

ROBERT K. WINNING. JOEL REX THORP. 

